Clip-retained,noise-suppression material for vehicle cabs

ABSTRACT

An improved manner of detachably retaining sound-suppressing material on the walls of vehicle cabs in the form of retaining clips for holding the sound-suppressing material edges.

United States Patent [191 Rediger et al.

[451 Oct. 22, 1974 CLIP-RETAINED, NOISE-SUPPRESSION MATERIAL FOR VEHICLE CABS [75] Inventors: John R. Rediger, Washington; David D. Hansen, Pekin, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

[58] Field of Search 296/28 C, 29, 39 R, 39 A, 296/137 A; 105/423; 52/213, 214, 278, 281, 357, 359, 360, 465, 468, 489

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,108 4/1907 Shultz..... 52/282 X 1,748,942 3/1930 Barrows.....

1,836,094 12/1931 Toncray 1,980,78 11/1934 Dayes 296/39 A X 2,208,159 7/1940 Lichtor 52/278 X 2,219,714 10/1940 Sperry 52/489 X 2,631,340 3/1953 Decker 52/476 X 3,042,446 7/1962 Stahl 296/137 A 3,238,835 3/1966 Rosenberg 52/407 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,015,835 9/1957 Germany 105/423 Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Leslie J. Papemer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Phillips, Moore, Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala [57] ABSTRACT An improved manner of detachably retaining soundsuppressing material on the walls of vehicle cabs in the form of retaining clips for holding the soundsuppressing material edges.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHBIZZIBI! 328 43.191 SHEET 1!! 2 CLIP-RETAINED, NOISE-SUPPRESSION MATERIAL FOR VEHICLE CABS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved manner of detachably retaining panels such as sound-suppressing material on the inner walls of a vehicle cab or the like and more particularly to the retaining clips employed in attaching such sound-suppressing material to the cab.

The common practice in the industry today in applying sound-suppressing material to the inner walls of vehicle cabs is to attach the material by glue or other adhesives such as double adhesive tapes. Although these methods are generally satisfactory for retaining the material, they are not entirely satisfactory as related to original installation and possible need to remove the material which must be later reinstalled. For example, the use of glues is extremely dangerous due to the toxic fumes which may damage the health of the person applying the sound-suppressing material as well as presenting a great fire hazard due to smoking or other sources of heat or flame. Although the use of double adhesive tapes has overcome the toxic fume problem, it is still difficult and time-consuming to apply the sound-suppressing material by using such tapes. In addition, either of the above-described methods present problems if it later becomes necessary to remove the sound-suppressing material. For example, it is difficult to remove the material without destroying the material itself and it further requires that the vehicle owner keep an inventory of suitable glue or adhesive material for reinstalling the sound-suppressing material on the cab. In addition, should the sound-suppressing material be damaged in removal, it is then necessary to obtain new sound-suppressing material which adds substantially to the cost of the operation.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention takes the form of an arrangement in which sheets of sound-suppressing material are mechanically clipped to structural members in supporting structures. The invention finds particular application in-vehicle cabs. The invention provides easily removable clip fasteners that can be easily inserted in an existing crevasse such as a window molding strip in a vehicle cab as well as other fasteners that are threadedly secured to support structures.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a means for releasably retaining panels, such as sound insulation panels, on walls, such as found on vehicle cab interiors.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings and following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial elevational interior view of a vehicle cab employing the clip retainers of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of a single one of the window clip retainers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of a single one of the edge retaining clips of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken along lines IVIV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view of corner clamp retainers of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of ceiling clip retainers of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring more particularly to the drawings, a clipretained, noise-suppressing material lining for a vehicle cab embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 as operatively installed on the internal wall surfaces of a vehicle cab shown generally at 11. Cab 11 comprises outer walls 12 and 13 and a ceiling or top plate 14 together with parallel corresponding walls (not shown) to form an enclosure for the operator. The walls and ceiling include vertical structural beams 15 and 16 and horizontal structural beam 17, respectively, which support the cab panels as well as provide rollover protection for the operator in the event the vehicle should capsize.

Walls l2, 13 further include a plurality of windows 18 to provide visibility for the operator with the window glass being supported in the cab walls by a rubber molding 19. As best seen in FIG. 2, the molding 19 is of generally elliptical shape in cross section having oppositely facing grooves 20 and 21 disposed along the major axis of the ellipse. The groove 20 engages an edge of the cab side panel whereas the groove 21 engages the glass of the window 18 to resiliently support the glass within the cab structure.

As seen in FIG. 1, the acoustical or soundsuppressing material consists of large sheets or panels 22, 23, 24 and 25, etc., which are placed in flat contacting planar relationship on the interior surface of the walls and ceiling. The side wall sheets 22 and 23 include openings 26 and 27, respectively, to accommodate the windows 18. These sheets of acoustical material are most advantageously retained in the assembled position by a plurality of window retainer clips 28 made of, e.g., sheet metal, around the windows with a plurality of corner retainer clips 29 retaining the sheets of material in the corners of the cab and a series of edge retainer clips 30 along exposed edges which are se cured to the cab wall structure by removable clamps 31.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 2, the window retainer clips 28 are of a modified S-shape having a retaining leg 32, a clamping leg 33 with an inwardly turned lip 34, with the legs 32 and 33 interconnected by an inwardly extending wall or web 35. The window retainer clips 28 are installed by inserting the retaining legs 32 into groove 20 of the elliptical window molding 19. In this manner, the clamping leg 33 and lip 34 engage the inner surface of the sound-suppressing material to secure it with respect to the wall 12. This particular design allows quick, safe installation and removal of the clip and the sound-suppressing material without any damage to the sheets of material.

The clip and retaining clamp construction for the exposed edges of the sheets of sound-suppressing material are more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this design, the edge retainer clip 30 consists of a generally U- shape having a bight or web portion 36, an outer leg 37, and a parallel inner leg 38. The inner leg 38 is turned inwardly at its free end to form a clamping lip 39 for en gagement with the sound-suppressing sheet 22. The

bight portion 36 of edge retainer clip 30 includes an elongated slot'40 for reception of the elongated leg 41 of the clamp 31 which is threadedly secured by a capscrew 43 to a retaining bracket 44 welded to structural member 15. Elongated leg 41 in the installed position extends inwardly of clip 30 through the slot 40. As best seen in FIG. 4, the leg 41 includes an inwardly directed lip portion 45 which engages the leg 37 of clip 30 to clamp it against the inner surface of the structural member 15. Slot 40 is dimensioned so as to be substantially larger in all directions than the leg 41 of clamp 31 to permit four-way adjustment of the clip and sheet of sound-suppressing material when it is installed in the vehicle cab.

Turning to FIG. 5, corner retainer clips 29 are generally L-shaped in configuration having a fixed leg 46 and a free leg 47 and are secured to adjacent surfaces of the structural member 16 by means of screw fasteners 48 so that the inwardly turned lip 49 of the free leg of the clamp is in retaining engagement with the outer surface of the sheet of sound-suppressing material 22 or 23.

Turning to FIG. 6, the sheets of sound-suppressing material 24 and 25 are retained in the ceiling of the cab by a plurality of ceiling retainer clips 50 which are secured to the ceiling structural member 17 by a screw fastener 51. The clip 50 haseach outer end thereof turned inwardly t form a retaining lip 52 for engagement with the two sheets of sound-suppressing material on opposite sides of structural member 17.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention and that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereto, but is to be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. in a vehicle cab having a plurality of walls defining generally planar surfaces with edges therearound joined to form corners and supported by a plurality of horizontal and vertical beam members, generally planar panels contactingly positioned against said walls and similarly having edges therearound in juxtaposed relationship with the wall edges,

the improvement comprising a plurality of retainer clip means for releasably securing said panels in their contacting positions,

wherein said clip means comprise generally U-shaped edge retainer clips including generally parallel inner and outer legs joined by a bight portion so as to partially encompass the panel edge, an opening in said bight portion, and further including an edge clamping means comprising an edge clamp having elongated leg inserted through said opening and having a lip portion thereof contacting said edge retainer clip, whereby said panels may be easily removed and installed by removing said retainer clip means. I

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said walls have generally planar windows therein supported by molding therearound, an opening in said panel defining edges around said window and wherein said retainer clip means further comprises a plurality of retaining clips engageable with said molding and said panel opening edges so as to provide retention of said panels against said walls.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said retaining clips comprise generally S-shaped members havinga clamping leg and a retaining leg in generally parallel relation and joined by a web.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said clamping means further comprise a plurality of generally L shaped corner retainer clips having a pair of legs joined at right angles, one leg being releasably fastened to a vertical member by a fastener.

5. The invention of claim 1 further including a ceiling in said cab and having a horizontal beam member thereon, a pair of panels juxtaposed on either side of said horizontal beam member and wherein said clamping means further comprise a plurality of generally planar ceiling clips secured to said horizontal beam by fasteners, said ceiling clips extending on either side of said horizontal beam so as to contact and retain the pair of panels.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said lip on said elongated leg is a generally arcuate extension of said elongated leg.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said edge clamping means further comprises a bracket extending from said vertical member and a fastener releasably securing said edge clamp to said bracket.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the opening is larger than said elongated leg whereby adjustment of the edge retainer clip with respect to the elongated leg is facilitated.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the panels are made of sound-suppressing material. 

1. In a vehicle cab having a plurality of walls defining generally planar surfaces with edges therearound joined to form corners and supported by a plurality of horizontal and vertical beam members, generally planar panels contactingly positioned against said walls and similarly having edges therearound in juxtaposed relationship with the wall edges, the improvement comprising a plurality of retainer clip means for releasably securing said panels in their contacting positions, wherein said clip means comprise generally U-shaped edge retainer clips including generally parallel inner and outer legs joined by a bight portion so as to partially encompass the panel edge, an opening in said bight portion, and further including an edge clamping means comprising an edge clamp having elongated leg inserted through said opening and having a lip portion thereof contacting said edge retainer clip, whereby said panels may be easily removed and installed by removing said retainer clip means.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said walls have generally planar windows therein supported by molding therearound, an opening in said panel defining edges around said window and wherein said retainer clip means further comprises a plurality of retaining clips engageable with said molding and said panel opening edges so as to provide retention of said panels against said walls.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said retaining clips comprise generally S-shaped members having a clamping leg and a retaining leg in generally parallel relation and joined by a web.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said clamping means further comprise a plurality of generally L-shaped corner retainer clips having a pair of legs joined at right angles, one leg being releasably fastened to a vertical member by a fastener.
 5. The invention of claim 1 further including a ceiling in said cab and having a horizontal beam member thereon, a pair of panels juxtaposed on either side of said horizontal beam member and wherein said clamping means further comprise a plurality of generally planar ceiling clips secured to said horizontal beam by fasteners, said ceiling clips extending on either side of said horizontal beam so as to contact and retain the pair of panels.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said lip on said elongated leg is a generally arcuate extension of said elongated leg.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said edge clamping means further comprises a bracket extending from said vertical member and a fastener releasably securing said edge clamp to said bracket.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the opening is larger than said elongated leg whereby adJustment of the edge retainer clip with respect to the elongated leg is facilitated.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the panels are made of sound-suppressing material. 